Improvements in or relating to dispensing

ABSTRACT

A dispensing closure for a container is provided. The closure includes docking means for allowing coupling of the closure with a further container.

The present invention relates generally to dispensing and particularly, although not exclusively, to situations in which dispensing from one container into another and/or between containers is required.

It is well known to provide containers with dispensing closures which allow release of a flowable product. In some cases the flowable product may be suitable for addition to the contents of another container. In these situations transfer of product from a donor container to a recipient container may be required.

The present invention seeks to provide improvements in or relating to dispensing packs which may include containers, closures and the like.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing closure for a container, the closure including docking means for allowing stable coupling of the closure with a further container.

The closure may be formed integrally with a container. Alternatively the closure may be formed separately from and be attachable to a container. The docking means facilitates coupling which is stable so that product can be dispensed from the container into a further container.

According to a further aspect there is provided a dispensing pack including docking means for locating the pack with respect to a container to allow transfer of material therebetween.

The pack may comprise a closure and a container. For example a closure and a separate container may be provided and the closure and/or container are provided with docking means.

According to a further aspect there is provided a beverage enhancer pack comprising docking means for providing a stable couple with a recipient container whereby to allow introduction of beverage enhancing material from the pack into the recipient container.

It is known to provide so-called “beverage enhancers” which may, for example, be a concentrated material which in use is dispensed into a larger volume. For example a concentrated fruit juice may be dispensed into a larger volume of water. A beverage enhancer pack may comprise a container which holds beverage enhancing product, and a closure. The pack comprises the docking means so that the pack can be stably coupled with a recipient container, for example a water bottle, so that the beverage enhancing material can be dispensed into such a recipient container whilst the two containers are held stably together. This means, for example, that the pack cannot easily be dislodged from the recipient container and will not accidentally fall off during the transfer of material. A more stable dispensing process is thereby provided, for example for dispensing a water enhancer into bottled water.

The docking means may be engageable into a container neck. For example, at least part of the docking means may be formed to fit within the bore of a container neck finish.

The docking means may be engageable around a container neck. The docking means may, for example, be formed as a collar or the like.

In some embodiments docking means which is engageable both into and around a container neck is provided.

The docking means may be adapted to couple with a standard container neck. Alternatively bespoke docking means may be formed for specific container neck and finish configurations.

The docking means may comprise an upstanding wall for fitting around a container neck. The upstanding wall may comprise two or more wall sections which may, for example, be at least partly curved.

The docking means may comprise an insertion member for fitting into a container neck. For example, a cylindrical plug-like member may be provided. The insertion member may comprise a dispensing passage. In other words, the insertion member fits into the container neck and thereafter allows product to be dispensed therethrough.

In some embodiments a valve is provided for dispensing flowable material. For example a self-closing valve may be provided.

The coupling provided by aspects and embodiments of the present invention may be releasable. However, it is also conceivable that a more permanent interconnection may be provided if required.

At least part of the couple may be a loose fit. Alternatively or additionally at least part of the couple may be a clearance, sliding, interference, tight or transition fit.

Closure and/or containers of the present invention may comprise, for example, docking means, coupling means, stabilising means, holding means, steadying means, locating means and the like.

The docking means may in some embodiments be adapted to couple with a spout. For example in some embodiments the docking means may be adapted to couple with a sports cap, such as a flip-top closure with a base hinge attached to a lid and including a dispensing spout.

According to a further aspect there is provided a locating adaptor for a closure and/or a container providing docking means attached or attachable to a closure and/or a container and operable to locate the closure and/or container with respect to a container to allow docking there between.

This aspect of the present invention therefore gives the potential for retro-fitting of a docking system.

Different aspects of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a closure formed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section of the closure of FIG. 4 taken along Line A-A;

FIG. 6 is an underplan view of the closure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the closure of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the closure of FIG. 1 shown in an open position;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the closure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of the closure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a section of the closure of FIG. 10 taken along Line B-B;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the closure of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a section of the closure of FIG. 12 taken along Line C-C;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of a closure of the type shown in FIGS. 1 to 13 together with further components making up a dispensing pack and shown in an exploded view;

FIG. 15 is a front elevation of the component shown in FIG. 14 assembled into a dispensing pack;

FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of the pack of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of the pack of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a side view of the pack of FIGS. 14 to 17 in use coupled with a recipient container;

FIG. 19 is a schismatic perspective illustration of the interface between the pack and container of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a side elevation of an alternative aspect in which a dispensing pack is adapted to couple with a sports cap;

FIG. 21 is a section of the dispensing pack and sportscap of FIG. 20 shown coupled; and

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a range of dispensing packs formed in accordance with aspects and embodiments of the present invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 13 there is shown a closure generally indicated 10.

The closure 10 comprises a generally frusto-conical body 15 and a lid 20. The base 15 and lid 20 are connected by a hinge arrangement 25. The hinge arrangement 25 is shown schematically and in practice could be any suitable articulation mechanism such as a film hinge, butterfly hinge, snap hinge, straps and the like. The hinge arrangement 25 allows the lid 20 to be flipped between the closed position shown in FIGS. 1-7 and the open position shown in FIGS. 8-13.

The base 15 comprises a generally oval side skirt 16 which is inclined, with a radius, inwardly from a free end to the end adjacent the lid 20, which gives a generally frusto-conical profile. The end of the skirt 16 opposite the free end is partially closed by a top plate 17. At the centre of the top plate 17 an upstanding angular wall 18 is provided. The end of the wall 18 opposite the plate 17 extends radially inward to define a central orifice 18 a. From the underside of the top plates an annular ceiling projection 19 depends with a slightly larger circumference than the wall 18.

The top plate 18 is also provided with a pair of lateral, arcuate walls 30, 32 with exterior surfaces which are continuous with the skirt 16 and arcuate inner surfaces 31, 33. The walls 30, 32 are shaped so as to form a recess for the lid 20 to sit in the closed position.

The lid 20 comprises a top plate 21 with a front section 22, a middle section 23, and a rear section 24. A lid sidewall extends continuously around the underside of the lid top plate 21 with wall sections 22 a, 23 a, 24 a corresponding to the front, middle and rear lid sections.

Referring now also to FIG. 14 a closure 110 of the type described in relation to FIGS. 1 to 13 is shown. The closure 110 is suitable for connection to a container 140 which comprises a hollow body defined by a base 142 a sidewall 144 and a neck finish 146. Together the arrangement forms a dispensing pack.

In this embodiment a self-closing valve 150 is provided and fits into the interior of the annular wall (corresponding to the wall 18 shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 10 to 13).

In order to secure the closure 110 onto the container 140 a snap bead or the like (now shown) is provided on the interior of the skirt 116, for example to engage the neck finish transfer bead 147. In this embodiment the neck finish 146 also includes an orientating lug 148 for co-operating with corresponding formations on the interior of the skirt 116 (not shown) to position the closure as shown in FIGS. 15 to 17.

Use of the dispensing pack of FIGS. 14 to 17 is illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19.

The lid 120 is first flipped to the open position shown in FIG. 14. Subsequently the pack can be upended as shown in FIG. 18. Product from the container 140 will not be released at this time because of the self-closing valve 150.

The pack can now be releasably coupled with a recipient container 160, which in this embodiment is a standard bottle with a standard neck finish 165.

The closure 110 is docked onto the neck finish 165. The neck 165 is received into the recess defined by the walls 130, 132. The walls 130, 132 are shaped and dimensioned so that the exterior surface 167 of the neck 165 fits against the inner wall surfaces 131, 133. The wall 118 of the closure is dimensioned so that added fits into the bore of the neck 165 with the exterior of the wall 118 adjacent the interior surface 169 of the neck 165, as shown best in FIG. 19.

With the closure 110 stably coupled to the open container neck 165 the flexible container sidewall 144 can now be squeezed to cause dispensing of product through the orifice 118 a via the self-closing valve 150 and into the bottle 160. When the sidewall 144 is released the negative pressure created inside will cause product flow to be shut off by the valve 150. The pack 170 can now be lifted off the bottle 160.

In this embodiment one possible application is in beverage enhancing material. Accordingly the donor container 142 would contain concentrated beverage enhancing product for dispensing into a bottle which could, for example, contain water to be flavoured/coloured by the beverage enhancing material.

Referring now to FIGS. 20 and 21 there is shown a dispensing pack 270 formed according to an alternative embodiment. The pack 270 comprises a squeezable container 240 with a dispensing closure 210 of the same general type to those discussed in relation to FIGS. 1 to 19.

In this embodiment the closure 210 comprises docking features (in this embodiment guide walls 231, 232 corresponding to the walls 31, 32 and an insertion member 218 corresponding to the wall 18). In this embodiment the docking/coupling features are adapted to locate the closure 210 with respect to a spout 280, which in this embodiment forms part of a sports cap-style closure 285 connected to a bottle neck 290.

Referring now to FIG. 22 there is shown four difference dispensing packs 370 a, 370 b, 370 c, 370 d. In each case the closure is generally the same but shown connected to different donor containers.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A dispensing pack comprising a closure and a donor container, the closure comprising a base and a lid connected by a hinge, the base comprising a dispensing orifice, the closure further comprising a self-closing valve for controlling flow of product from the container through the orifice, the donor container having a flexible sidewall and being squeezable, the closure base comprising a docking arrangement for releasably coupling the pack to a recipient container into which product from the donor container is to be dispensed, whereby the pack can be upended and docked with the recipient container without product being released and thereafter the donor container can be squeezed to cause dispensing of product through the orifice via the self-closing valve. 2-5. (canceled)
 6. The pack as claimed in claim 1, in which the docking arrangement is engageable into a container neck.
 7. The pack as claimed in claim 1, in which the docking arrangement is engageable around a container neck.
 8. The pack as claimed in claim 1, in which the docking arrangement is adapted to couple with a standard container neck.
 9. The pack as claimed in claim 1, in which the docking arrangement comprises an upstanding wall for fitting around a container neck.
 10. The pack as claimed in claim 9, in which the upstanding wall comprises two or more wall sections.
 11. The pack as claimed in claim 1, in which the docking arrangement comprises an annual wall defining the orifice and suitable for fitting into a container neck. 12-15. (canceled)
 16. The pack as claimed in claim 1, in which at least part of the coupling of the pack to the recipient container via the docking arrangement has a loose fit.
 17. The pack as claimed in claim 1, in which at least part of the coupling of the pack to the recipient container via the docking arrangement has a tight fit.
 18. The pack as claimed in claim 1, in which the docking arrangement is adapted to couple with a spout.
 19. The pack as claimed in claim 1, in which the docking arrangement is adapted to couple with a sportscap. 20-23. (canceled)
 24. The pack as claimed in claim 10, in which the wall sections are arcuate.
 25. A beverage enhancer dispensing pack comprising a closure and a donor container, the closure comprising a dispensing orifice and a self-closing valve for controlling flow of product from the donor container through the orifice, the donor container holding beverage enhancing product and being squeezable, the closure being releasably couplable with a recipient container into which product from the donor container is to be dispensed, whereby the pack can be upended and docked with the recipient container without product being released and thereafter the donor container can be squeezed to cause dispensing of product through the orifice via the self-closing valve.
 26. A dispensing closure comprising a base and a lid connected by a hinge arrangement, the base comprising a base top plate which includes an upstanding annular wall defining a dispensing passage, a pair of arcuate wall sections upstanding from the base top plate, the base top plate comprising a recess between the arcuate wall sections into which the lid fits when in a closed position, the lid including a lid top plate and a depending sidewall, the sidewall including arcuate wall sections corresponding to the base arcuate wall sections. 